by JKMelby74
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I won’t bother you again. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For the invaluable lesson you have taught me.”
“What’s that?”
“Enlightenment doesn’t always fall upon those who deserve it. Sometimes it’s just wasted. Good bye.”
The next few days passed easily. I went about my usual routine. I didn’t see Ivar anymore. I was able to slip into my old ways and banish away any memories of what he told me. I even managed to earn enough money by the end of the week to afford to get a real dinner. I’d have to skip on the tip, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t eaten a decent meal in months.
There was a fast food joint along the boulevard that was a step above the typical fried food crap. It was a nice little shop. Clean and cool with pretty modern music playing over their speakers. It was good because for a small price, I could get a lot of food. I determined I would save the money to get dinner on Friday night. It just felt like a Friday night thing to me. A little treat to ease the pain of the week away.
As the sun got lower in the sky that Friday, my stomach began doing somersaults. It knew food was on the way and I could barely keep from slobbering. My hands were shaking as I approached the store. I pulled the glass doors open and I could see the look on the cashier’s face as I walked in. Her nose screwed up as though she just got a whiff of some bad cheese. I sauntered up to the counter as confident as I could and placed my hands upon it.
“What do you want?”
“Look, honey. I got money today. Okay?”
“Fine. What’ll it be?”
“I’ll have a number two meal, please.” With a forced smile, the cashier looked down at her register and typed in my order.
“That’ll be six fifty two.”
I flipped my bag around and opened it up. I sifted through my crap for my little nest egg but I couldn’t find it. Panic ripped through me and my stomach fell a bit. I searched faster, but it wasn’t there. Suddenly, relief came over me as I realized I put the money in the smaller front pocket. I zipped the bag closed and went on to the extra pocket. I pulled it open but found nothing but a hole in the cheap vinyl. My blood froze.
“Sir?”
“Hold on!” I barked as I searched every inch of the pocket. My finger stumbled on something and I quickly plucked out a shiny quarter. “Here!” The cashier examined the coin closely.
“That’s fine, sir. Your balance is now six twenty seven.”
“Look, I had the money. I did!”
“Do you have the money now?”
“No, but...”
“Next!” The cashier said and the kid behind me slid around me and she began taking his order. I stepped back. I felt my head growing lighter. I looked to the floor. I saw a penny outside the door. I lunged for it. As I pocketed it, I saw another coin a few feet away. Soon I was half way down the block picking up fallen money along the path I came. I had found all the coins and the single. I was still missing the five-dollar bill. I saw a small child picking up a bill off the ground. My brain snapped all of a sudden and I charged forward.
“Stop!” I screamed as I flew forward and tackled the child. I saw the five land on the ground. I reached for it, but I felt hands grabbing at me. I struggled against their pull to get closer to my treasure, but I saw the bill slipping away and I looked up and two officers were coming upon me. They grabbed me and pushed me up against a nearby wall. I felt the cuffs slap on and they shoved me into their cruiser.
Once we got to the police station, the arresting officer led me inside to the booking office. Cops were taking statements and fingerprints and there was a large line of people waiting to be processed. I saw a small room off to the side and I could see that was where they took mug shots. The officer took me to a desk in the back and sat me down. He came around me and slid behind the desk. He flipped on his computer and started typing quickly. I looked around and felt a sinking feeling come over me. Most of the people they had in custody looked to have gotten the short end of the stick when it came to life. Most of them looked to be fresh out of all kinds of different rehab. One crack whore in particular struck me as she had stringy blonde hair, pale skin and was missing at least four of her front teeth.
“Name.” The cop said all of a sudden. I turned to face him and I heard the jingle of my cuffs.
“Jake Corba.”
“Hmmm.”
“What?”
“You’re not in the system.”
“I’ve never been arrested before.”
“Honestly? That surprises me.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“So. What happened?”
“I know it looks bad, but it’s really very simple. I had been saving to get something decent to eat, but I discovered I had a hole in my bag. I was retracing my steps to get the money back and that kid was just then picking up the five dollar bill.”
“And that’s when you dog piled on her.”
“I just snapped. I wasn’t thinking. I was just so hungry. I haven’t eaten real food in months. I didn’t hurt her, did I?”
“She’s fine, but her mother is fit to be tied.”
“You think she’ll press charges?”
“I’d be amazed if she doesn’t sue your ass off.”
“I don’t have anything!”
“Easy. I’ll talk with her and see if I can sway her.” Suddenly I heard some kind of excitement behind me. I looked over and saw the child’s mother storming in.
“There! There he is!” She had sandy blonde hair and was wrapped in expensive looking threads. I really noticed the large rock on her wedding finger. She came up and towered over me with a threatening glare. “I don’t know what kind of man just attacks an innocent little girl right there on the street, but I will make sure you never see the light of day again! Do you understand me?”
“Ma’am? Please. If you would, please wait behind the desk. I’ll come for you when I’m ready for your statement.”
“I’ll give it to you now! This man attacked my precious daughter right before my eyes. He was probably high on crack or Meth or whatever they call it.”
“It wasn’t like that. I was just...” I began, but before I could say another word, I felt her ice cold hand slam across my face.
“Ma’am! I said wait over there! Unless you want to share a cell with Mr. Corba.”
“Oh. He has a name? Are you sure it’s real?”
“Please, Ma’am. Just let me do my job.”
“Fine.” She then turned on her heel and went back to where her daughter was waiting at the other side of the room.
“Sorry.” The cop sat back down.
“It’s fine.” Suddenly a scream broke out. I turned and some large behemoth in a leather vest was banging around. He was swiping away cops as fast as they could hit him. Everyone began screaming and running to get away while the police all pulled out their guns and swarmed around. I had seen him when we first came in. He looked like some kind of biker. He seemed docile at the time, but something had stirred him up.
More uniforms came rushing in yelling at him to calm down. One cop rushed him but the brute grabbed him and tossed him aside. Apparently, he also managed to lift the cop’s gun, because he held it out and sent everyone back. I saw the kid and mom close behind him, huddled in the corner. The biker turned and quickly grabbed the little girl and pressed the gun to her head.
“One more step and the girl loses her head.” He dragged her back as he distanced himself from the crowd of police. I was still in my chair, cuffed. He was making his way toward me. I wasn’t sure if he had not seen me or just thought I was no threat. I saw the kid’s mom’s face. She may have been an ice-cold bitch to me, but seeing her kid held at gunpoint was tearing her up. I’m not sure why I cared, but I suddenly felt morally obligated to do something.
Just as the crazed biker got within reach, I leapt up and threw my arms over his head and pulled the cuffs against his throat hard. He flailed quickly and
the girl broke free. She streaked back to her mother just as the big dude bucked me off. I flew back and hit the wall hard. He still had the gun and was stomping toward me. He raised it up, but before he could shoot, the cops were on him. Once they had him subdued, everything slowly shifted to normal. I sat back down as the cop returned.
“Good moves.” He said approvingly.
“Thanks. Instinct, I guess.”
“Officer?” The mom said from behind.
“Yes?”
“I, uh, I wanted to thank Mr. Corba. For saving Katy.”
“No problem. I guess I owed her.”
“It was very brave of you. Thank you.”
“Sure.”
After processing, I was escorted to a holding cell. It was dark and the floor was gray and cold. I could hear the coughs and whispers of the other inmates in the other cells. Mine was rather empty. Only two other guys were there. One was asleep on one of the benches and the other was a crazy looking freak with long, wild black hair. He sat in the corner with his arms wrapped around himself, as though he were trying to hold in all his crazy. The fluorescent lights above seemed to augment the dingy pipes and chipped green paint on the walls. I found a spot far from both of my cellmates and waited. I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for, but I waited. The longhaired guy kept staring at me.
Hours bled into each other. I began to think about my situation and I was starting to think I wasn’t in such a bad place. I had a roof over my head and they had to feed us. I was sure it wasn’t four-star cuisine, but it was better than nothing. Finally, the cop who processed me returned.
“Corba?”
“Yes?”
“It’s your lucky day. The mom’s decided to drop the charges.”
“What?”
“She figures she owes you a good turn for saving her kid. I’ll get the papers moving right away.”
“Wait!”
“What?”
“I just, I was hoping that I’d be here long enough to get fed at least.” I said, feeling stupid for even uttering the thought. The cop looked at me thoughtfully.
“Well, we feed you guys at eight, usually. I guess it’ll take me until at least eight thirty to get the papers through.”
“Thanks.”
“Sure.” I took my seat back but was startled to find the longhaired freak right next to me. I didn’t even hear him move.
“Corba?” His voice was raspy and weird. His eyes were wide and crazed. I felt my skin growing cold just sitting next to him.
“Yes.”
“What an interesting name.”
“What’s yours?” His eyes were wild as they looked upon me. It felt like he was appraising me, or something.
“Sam Abaddon.”
Nice to meet you, Sam.”
“Likewise. Your name carries quite a history.” The cold in my blood intensified.
“You know about my family?”
“Of course! I am what some would call a student of the black arts. I have spent the better part of my life studying magic and mysticism and anyone in that world knows of the Corba family. Demon hunters. But I sense something more in you. You’ve got a power that’s literally bubbling to the top. You are special.”
“Thanks. I’m going to sit over there for a while, okay?” I flung myself from my seat and found a quiet spot at the other end of the cell. Sam was close behind.
“Don’t misunderstand my interest, please. It’s just that when I find someone who could be such a powerful force, I feel it’s my duty to help nurture that talent.”
“I’m not looking for a teacher or anything, okay?” I said. Sam’s hand grabbed my arm. A heat rose up through me and as quickly as that, Sam fell back. He looked up at me with amazement in his eyes. He smiled quickly and leapt back up to me.
“A demon! You host a demon in your soul!”
“Yes. I do. I’ve learned to control it, so just shut up about it.”
“You don’t understand. You have within you a power you can’t begin to imagine.”
“Trust me. I can.”
“This is wonderful.” Sam began ogling me like some sort of prize. I got up and walked to the middle of the cell.
“Look, man, I don’t really care about the demon in me. I don’t care about magic or whatever. I’m just trying to live my life. If it’s all the same to you, I just want to wait for my dinner and get out of here.”
“Has anyone talked to you about this?”
“Some guy. Freak like you. Ivar.”
“Ivar.”
“Of course you know him. Crazy knows crazy.”
“Ivar and I have traveled in the same spheres, yes, but he and I are vastly different. He languishes in the past. I can show you a way to use the demon inside of you to make your life better now. You want food? Shelter? You can have it all! More in fact! The key is within you, Jake. Like a genie in a bottle. You just need to release it.”
“If I could do that, I would have done it years ago.”
“You can’t do it, but I could,” He had my attention. “I can release the demon from you. I can also help you use the demon’s powers to make your life better. No more struggling to survive day to day. I can feel the pain coming through you even now. You have been down so long, you can’t even imagine a better world, but I can help you.” I still had my doubts.
“Prove it.”
“What?”
“You say you study this stuff and you can do this for me. Prove it.” Sam stood up and paced around the cell, his crazy eyes glued to me. His look was almost accusing, as though I had pulled the curtain away only to expose the trembling weak fool hiding behind his powerful boasts. He suddenly sprang forward and grabbed my arm. He dragged me to the floor and held my arm down upon it.
“Proof? You need proof of my power?” His voice was trembling. He held up one of his fingers to me and I could see he had grown his nail out and filed it to a sharp point. With a sick grin on his mouth, he stabbed into his own hand. “Here’s your proof.” I looked down and saw his wound was deep and blood was seeping out. His fingernail was covered in it and he dripped a few drops on the floor. He forced my hand over the blood and guided it around in a circular motion. He began to mumble something under his breath. Suddenly, fire burst up from the blood. I looked down at the small flame while I felt Sam’s eyes on me. He began laughing. He held his hand out over the flame and he began slowly waving his hand over the fire and with every pass, it grew larger and brighter. I sat back and watched as he teased the flame higher until finally he balled his fist up and as he did, the fire died. He looked over to me waiting for a reaction.
I had dreamt so long of abandoning the demon, but after so many years, I had given up. I had been waiting for so long to find someone who could save me once and for all. It didn’t fill me with too much confidence that I finally found that person in a jail cell, but I wasn’t going to be picky.
Chapter 3
Sam’s Story
When dinner came, I sat down with Sam and he told me about his life. It seemed we had a lot more in common than I thought. We were both orphaned at a young age. Just like me, he was tossed from foster home to foster home. He never had many friends and retreated to his books. He discovered his talent for magic and learned all he could. Over the years, he had ample time to practice and perfect them. The more he spoke the more I felt I had finally found a kindred spirit.
“Okay, so when do we do this?”
“Not here. I know a place.”
“Yeah, but are you getting out soon?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll be in touch with you when I am released.”
“But, when will that be?”
“When I am ready.” I heard footsteps and then the cell door opened. I looked to see my cop friend standing before me.
“You fed?”
“Yeah.”
“All right. Check out time. We have some papers for you to sign.” I looked over to Sam.
“Go. Remember what I told you.” I no
dded and walked out of the cell.
“Were you talking to Sam?” The cop asked as he led me down the hall.
“Yeah. Is that a crime?”
“No, it’s just I’ve never seen him talk to anyone before.”
“Has he been here long?”
“Not this time. He’s kind of a regular. Personally, I think we should throw the book at him, but all the powers that be seem to think all he needs is face time with some court appointed shrinks and some taxpayer funded medications.”
“What’s he in for this time?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t the arresting officer and I haven’t bothered reading his file. The last time he was here, though, he was caught just as he was about to cut open a little girl to open up a portal to another dimension or Hell or something.”
After I was done with all the paperwork, I went to my apartment and collapsed on my mattress. The meager dinner the jail had provided me was still sitting in my stomach and its flavor lived on my tongue. I tried not to think about it too much, as the thought of food only encouraged my appetite. I tried to think about what Sam had told me. I also thought on what the cop said about Sam. I was already weary enough of him, but the added information was beginning to paint a picture I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of. Although, the thought of being free of the demon made any price seem worthy. Even if he were a deranged psychopath, if he could release me from the monster I held in my skin, he’d be my hero. After a few hours of imagining a demon free life, I began to drift off to sleep.
I woke up the next morning and not much had changed. The walls were still dirty and the stench of the garbage in the living room wafted in. I was still in my clothes from the previous night. I got up and changed into some clean pants.
I walked out to the living room and still, nothing new. I wasn’t sure why I was expecting a change. I headed out and started my day as I had so many mornings before that one. As I pushed the door open, I noticed a piece of paper taped on the frame of my door. I unfolded it and saw a large message scrawled in red. ‘Soon’. I looked upon the paper for a few moments. I sensed Sam’s presence with it, but I was at a loss to figure out how he got it to me.
